Naminoue Beach, Urban beach in Naha, Japan

Naminoue Beach is an urban beach in central Naha, divided into two sections: the Wakasa side and the Tsuji side, each with its own facilities. The sand sits below an elevated highway that runs directly overhead, giving the shore an unusual setting within the city.

The Wakasa side opened in 1991, and the Tsuji side followed in April 1999. In April 2004 the Tsuji side was closed to swimming for the Naha West Road construction, planned until 2011. The beach is Naha's only swimming beach, and annual visitors rose from about 7,500 in its first year to about 235,000 in 2000.

The beach takes its name from Naminoue Shrine, one of the eight Ryukyu shrines, which stands on the cliff directly above the sand. From the shore you can look up at its buildings overlooking the water. The shrine and the nearby Tsushima Maru Memorial Museum are the main landmarks around the beach.

Swimming is allowed from late April through October, with hours varying by season, so it is worth checking before you go. The beach is easy to reach on foot from central Naha and sits close to bus and monorail stops.

The beach's two sections opened in different years: the Wakasa side in 1991 and the Tsuji side in April 1999. In April 2001 it became the first barrier-free beach in Okinawa Prefecture, with accessible toilets and showers and amphibious wheelchairs available for loan.